Media Release

24 October 2012

Singapore Navy Frigate Here for the First Time

The Royal Singaporean Navy Frigate STALWART was here training with Royal NZ Navy Ships TE KAHA and ENDEAVOUR in Devonport for Exercise Lion Zeal this month. The Singaporean Navy were welcomed by a powhiri at the Navy Marae in Devonport.

The Exercise consisted of two and half days of exercises at sea with the Singaporean Frigate that included helicopter, gunnery and replenishment operations.

Commander Jon Beadsmoore, Commanding Officer of TE KAHA explains the importance of the Exercise, saying, “The exercise itself provided the Ships with opportunities to practice a variety of warfare skills including live firing of medium range guns. RSS STALWART was able to operate a New Zealand Seasprite helicopter from her deck and the operations teams from all ships worked closely together throughout the period.”

Despite this being STALWART’s first trip to New Zealand it was a reunion for the three Ships as they had all operated very closely last month in a multi-national Exercise off the coast of Darwin. Commander Beadsmoore also noted that, “the Royal Singaporean Navy is one of the Pacific Rim navies that we work most closely with, with TE KAHA having now completed six exercises with them over the past 18 months.”

“The RNZN and Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) have a close and longstanding relationship that has been forged over decades by regular bilateral and multi national exercises and combined participation in operations,” said Commander Beadsmoore. 
ENDS

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